Changes

==A family of musicians==

==A family of musicians==

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The Mayfields played all musical instruments, beginning with the [[mandolin]]. Mayfield and two brothers, Thomas Edd Mayfield (1927-1958) and [[Herbert Mayfield]], went on the Bluegrass circuit and opened in Amarillo and Lubbock for Tennessee Ernie Ford and the Maddox Brothers and Rose as the Green Valley Boys, named for their ranch. Edd Mayfield left the family band and played the [[guitar]] with a thumbpick for a decade with [[Bill Monroe]], considered the "father of Bluegrass."  While he was on tour with Monroe, Edd Mayfield died of leukemia in Bluefield, [[West Virginia]].<ref name=hcrs>Joe Carr and Allan Munde, The Mayfield Boys," ''Hansford County Reporter-Statesman,'' undated.</ref>​

The Mayfields played all musical instruments, beginning with the [[mandolin]]. Mayfield and two brothers, Thomas Edd Mayfield (1927-1958) and [[Herbert Mayfield]], went on the Bluegrass circuit and opened in Amarillo and Lubbock for Tennessee Ernie Ford and the Maddox Brothers and Rose as the Green Valley Boys, named for their ranch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29776478/arlie-vincent-mayfield|title=Arlie Vincent "Smokey" Mayfield, I|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 23, 2020}}</ref>

 

Edd Mayfield left the family band and played the [[guitar]] with a thumbpick for a decade with [[Bill Monroe]], considered the "father of Bluegrass."  While he was on tour with Monroe, Edd Mayfield died of leukemia in Bluefield, [[West Virginia]].<ref name=hcrs>Joe Carr and Allan Munde, The Mayfield Boys," ''Hansford County Reporter-Statesman,'' undated.</ref>​

Herb Mayfield recalled that he and his brothers enjoyed music so much that they would race home after doing their ranch chores so that they could practice.<ref name=obit/> Eventually, Smokey chose the fiddle as his instrument. He was, however, too small to hold a full-sized instrument under his chin. So he anchored the fiddle between his chest and the wall of the barn. He continued to play in that position, with the fiddle on his chest rather than under his chin, into adulthood.<ref name=hcrs/>​

Herb Mayfield recalled that he and his brothers enjoyed music so much that they would race home after doing their ranch chores so that they could practice.<ref name=obit/> Eventually, Smokey chose the fiddle as his instrument. He was, however, too small to hold a full-sized instrument under his chin. So he anchored the fiddle between his chest and the wall of the barn. He continued to play in that position, with the fiddle on his chest rather than under his chin, into adulthood.<ref name=hcrs/>​

Smokey Mayfield resided in Hutchinson County near Spearman, which is in neighboring Hansford County in the northern Panhandle. He worked for a half century for the historic Turkey Track Ranch in Hutchinson County.<ref name=obit/> Herb Mayfield was born in Erick, [[Oklahoma]], but lived in Dimmitt and graduated from Dimmitt High School. During World War II, he participated in troop lifts in [[Normandy]],  [[France]], and, like Smokey, the Battle of the Bulge. Thereafter, Herb Mayfield was a welder for [[cattle]] feedlots in Dimmitt. He was for many years the president of the Dimmitt Rodeo Association and a member of the Panhandle Blue Grass Association. He died some three months prior to the passing of Smokey.<ref name=obit>Obituary of Herbert E. Mayfield, ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,'' June 1, 2008.</ref>​

Smokey Mayfield resided in Hutchinson County near Spearman, which is in neighboring Hansford County in the northern Panhandle. He worked for a half century for the historic Turkey Track Ranch in Hutchinson County.<ref name=obit/> Herb Mayfield was born in Erick, [[Oklahoma]], but lived in Dimmitt and graduated from Dimmitt High School. During World War II, he participated in troop lifts in [[Normandy]],  [[France]], and, like Smokey, the Battle of the Bulge. Thereafter, Herb Mayfield was a welder for [[cattle]] feedlots in Dimmitt. He was for many years the president of the Dimmitt Rodeo Association and a member of the Panhandle Blue Grass Association. He died some three months prior to the passing of Smokey.<ref name=obit>Obituary of Herbert E. Mayfield, ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,'' June 1, 2008.</ref>​

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==Extended family==

==Extended family==